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< Back March 13, 2020 LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCES “PLAN OF ACTION” IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 On Thursday afternoon, leadership of all four legislative caucuses in the Colorado General Assembly agreed on the following “Plan of Action” over the coming days in response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak: Step One: House Bill 20-1359 was introduced this afternoon and has passed the House Judiciary Committee and Second Reading in the House of Representatives. This bill will move swiftly through the General Assembly with the goal of being delivered to Governor Jared Polis by Saturday, March 14. This legislation, drafted with the leadership of all caucuses and with the support of both the Colorado Democratic Party and the Colorado Republican Party, will give county political parties more control regarding where their assemblies are to be conducted and what procedures they must follow. This includes allowing for changes in location and allowance of electronic means of participation for delegates and candidates if such means can be secured by those entities. Step Two: A Joint Resolution will be introduced in the House of Representatives to ask the Colorado Supreme Court – via an interrogatory – to clarify the General Assembly’s ability to count legislative days non-consecutively. The State Constitution limits the General Assembly’s session to “no more than 120 calendar days,” but does not clearly define whether that means consecutive days; and a Joint Rule provides for the ability to meet non-consecutively when a public health-related emergency has been declared by the Governor. Clarification from the Supreme Court would avoid the potential risk of litigation over ambiguity regarding the counting of those 120 days. Step Three: A Joint Resolution is currently being drafted that would allow both the Senate and the House to adjourn temporarily. As of now, there is no plan on when that Resolution would be introduced or for what period of time the General Assembly might be adjourned. This is being drafted as a precaution so that we are prepared in the event that the General Assembly decides it is in the best interest of staff, legislators, lobbyists, and the public at large to temporarily adjourn for some length of time. Senate President Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo) released the following statement: “Protecting the health and safety of state employees as well as the public, is our top priority right now. We are currently navigating all of our options and will continue to do our due diligence in determining how to proceed in the coming weeks. By taking these next steps, we are laying the groundwork to act quickly if necessary, while allowing essential tenets of democracy to continue. In moments like this, Coloradans need unity, and I applaud my colleagues in both chambers in working together during this difficult time.” Speaker of the House K.C. Becker (D-Boulder) released the following statement: “The health and safety of all Coloradans is our top priority. We are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and are in close contact with state agencies, public health experts and the governor. Any decision we make will be informed by public health experts and our State’s Constitution. Today we are taking steps to prepare the General Assembly for actions we may need to take to protect the public, and I am grateful for the willingness of leaders in both parties and in both chambers to work together during this public health emergency.” Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert (R-Douglas County) released the following statement: “Unlike a sports league, an amusement park, or a parade, the General Assembly is obligated to follow the Colorado Constitution. We are determined to prioritize the health and safety of all who work in – or visit – the Colorado State Capitol, and that means taking these steps to ensure we remain constitutionally compliant in every action we take. I am thankful for Democrat and Republican leadership in both chambers for working collaboratively. This is truly a Colorado effort.” House Minority Leader Patrick Neville (R-Castle Rock) released the following statement: “As a legislature, we need to ensure the safety of not only this body, but more importantly the public. The Capitol sees hundreds, sometimes thousands, of visitors a day and we have a duty to protect them. That being said, we, as legislators, are unable to perform our duties without public input. I cannot represent the people of Colorado if they are shut out of the building. If we go into recess, we have to make certain that no legislative business is done without the participation of the people. As many of my colleagues know, public testimony can make or break a bill.” Previous Next

< Back March 3, 2022 JUDICIARY PASSES BILL TO PREVENT IDENTITY-BASED CRIMES DENVER, CO – The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Dafna Michaelson Jenet to prevent identity-based crimes and build safer Colorado communities. The bill is part of the public safety package. “We've seen a scary increase in threats and crimes targeting specific communities, and this cannot continue,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Improving public safety is a top priority, and identity-based crimes have no place in Colorado. Our legislation will help law enforcement develop the tools and strategies they need to prevent and solve serious crimes that impact our entire community’s sense of safety.” “Crimes that target specific communities cannot be tolerated,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “We need new strategies and resources to counter violent threats that make entire communities feel unsafe. The legislation we are advancing will focus on preventing and intervening in identity-based violence by developing new capabilities and collaboration with community organizations and law enforcement.” HB22-1234 , which passed by a vote of 7-4, creates a grant program to prevent identity-based violence. The grants will focus on building strong communities and preventing acts of violence that target a specific population of people, and on building awareness of these crimes to prevent them from happening in the first place. The bill positions law enforcement to develop the strategies needed to solve serious crimes that have widespread ramifications on a community’s sense of safety. This could include projects that strengthen local collaboration and capabilities to prevent and intervene in identity-based violence. The bill is supported by the Department of Public Safety, One Colorado, the Counter Terrorism Education Learning Lab, the Center on Colfax, and Out Boulder County. Previous Next

Legislation would strengthen firearm training requirements for concealed carry permits to ensure responsible gun ownership < Back March 8, 2024 Bill to Strengthen Firearm Training, Promote Responsible Gun Ownership Advances Legislation would strengthen firearm training requirements for concealed carry permits to ensure responsible gun ownership DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation in a preliminary vote to strengthen firearm training requirements for concealed carry permits to promote responsible firearm ownership and protect Colorado communities from gun violence. “States that have eliminated their live-fire training requirements to receive a concealed carry permit saw a 32 percent increase in gun assaults,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. "The data is clear - live-fire gun training can save lives. This important legislation will ensure that Coloradans with concealed carry permits are properly trained before they bring their firearm into their communities.” “When I received my concealed carry permit years ago, I was surprised to learn that Colorado law did not require live-fire training, a necessary skill to have before carrying a gun in public spaces," said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs. "Our bill would create a minimum requirement for concealed carry permit holders, including in-person live-fire training with a certified firearms instructor, to ensure that concealed carry permits are issued with appropriate training. Our commonsense gun violence prevention legislation works to prevent senseless gun deaths by improving firearm training.” In Colorado, a person can be issued a concealed carry permit if they complete a handgun training class by a verified firearms safety instructor, pass a background check, and demonstrate competence with a handgun. HB24-1174 would require handgun training classes to be held in-person and include training on safe handling of firearms and ammunition, safe storage of firearms and child safety, safe firearms shooting fundamentals, federal and state firearm laws, state laws related to the use of deadly force for self-defense, interacting with law enforcement who are responding to emergencies, and techniques for conflict resolution and judgmental use of lethal force. Under the bill, the handgun training class would include at least eight hours of instruction, including a live-fire exercise and a written exam that the student must receive passing scores on. The bill would also require a concealed handgun refresher class (refresher class) to be completed in order to renew a concealed carry permit. This refresher class must be at least two hours, including a passing score on both the live-fire exercise and written exam. The refresher class must also include instruction on changes to federal or state firearm laws. HB24-1174 prohibits a person from being issued a permit if they have been convicted of certain misdemeanor offenses within five years of submitting a concealed carry permit application. The bill also makes it a deceptive trade practice for a person to claim to be a verified firearms safety instructor unless they have been verified by a county sheriff. Majority Leader Duran sponsored a 2021 law that promotes responsible gun ownership by ensuring that gun owners properly store their firearms when they are not in use, especially when children are present. Previous Next

< Back May 14, 2021 HISTORIC DAY FOR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN COLORADO AS HOUSE ADVANCES THREE LIFESAVING BILLS DENVER, CO– The House today advanced three bold new gun violence prevention measures, all of which will help to curb the epidemic of gun violence and save lives. Two bills, focused on expanding and improving our background check system and creating the Office of Gun Violence Prevention advanced on Second Reading, while a bill to strengthen enforcement of laws that keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers passed on Third Reading. “When Boulder was devastated by yet another mass shooting last month, my community was left reeling and asking for change,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Today, we moved to create an office dedicated to gun violence prevention, expand background checks to prevent people like the Boulder shooter from buying a firearm, and strengthened the process that prevents domestic abusers from accessing them as well. As a staunch mental health advocate, I’m also proud that we are working to pass bills to get Coloradans the support they need to address their mental health. All of these efforts will help us prevent tragedies and save lives.” “Keeping guns out of the hands of people with violent criminal pasts is a common sense way to curb the gun violence epidemic that has taken far too many lives in our state, and it’s no surprise that a majority of Coloradans support it,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “Colorado is demonstrating that it is possible to take bold, substantive action to curb gun violence. I hope Congress is taking notes.” HB21-1298 , sponsored by Reps. Woodrow and Amabile, prohibits a person who has been convicted of certain violent misdemeanor offenses from purchasing a firearm for five years. These specific criminal offenses show a propensity for violence or illegal usage of a weapon and include charges like child abuse, hate crimes, cruelty to animals, sexual assault and third degree assault. The bill also closes the “Charleston loophole”, which allows an individual who may not have otherwise passed a background check to obtain a firearm if the results of said background check take longer than three days to process. This bill avoids that by creating a state requirement for a firearms dealer to receive approval from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation prior to transferring a firearm. “Today is a groundbreaking and hopeful day in the history of the Colorado House,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “In a single day, the House advanced three bills that will help us get to the root causes of gun violence and make our state a safer place to live. As we take these lifesaving steps, I’m particularly excited about the creation of the Office of Gun Violence prevention, which will ensure our gun violence prevention efforts are centralized and working as efficiently as possible.” “Coloradans have become intimately acquainted with the horrors of gun violence, whether they manifest in mass shootings, suicides, or the everyday community and domestic violence that takes loved ones from families across the state far too often,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “The Office of Gun Violence Prevention will channel our efforts to promote safety and mental health resources into one place while also funding the type of innovative community-driven violence interruption programs that will help us end this public health epidemic.” HB21-1299 , sponsored by Reps. Bacon and Sullivan, establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention under the Department of Public Health and Environment. The Office would be responsible for conducting public awareness campaigns about gun violence prevention. It would educate the public about existing state resources and laws, including how to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order, how to access mental health resources and how to store firearms securely. The office would also fund proven community-based violence intervention programs that are focused on interrupting cycles of gun violence through competitive grants. Finally, the Office would be tasked with promoting research and presenting gun violence prevention tools and resources that would be available to the public and to create and maintain a database of research regarding gun violence in Colorado. HB21-1255 , sponsored by Reps. Monica Duran and Matt Gray, would strengthen and streamline procedures for the relinquishment of firearms by someone who has a domestic violence-related protection order issued against them. Current law already requires domestic violence offenders who are subject to a protection order stemming from an act of domestic or intimate partner violence to forfeit their firearms and refrain from possessing or purchasing firearms for the duration of the order. This bill simply clarifies the way in which defendants must comply with this requirement, and establishes requirements for courts. The bill passed the House on Third Reading by a vote of 39-23. Previous Next

The second regular session of the 74th General Assembly concludes today, with Democratic lawmakers securing breakthrough victories on the issues that matter most to Colorado families: saving people money on housing, increasing education funding to historic levels by eliminating the budget stabilization factor, and addressing the climate crisis and boosting transit options. < Back May 9, 2024 Sine Die! General Assembly Democrats Conclude Breakthrough Session by Delivering Major Wins for Colorado Communities DENVER, CO – The second regular session of the 74th General Assembly concludes today, with Democratic lawmakers securing breakthrough victories on the issues that matter most to Colorado families: saving people money on housing, increasing education funding to historic levels by eliminating the budget stabilization factor, and addressing the climate crisis and boosting transit options. “This legislative session has been nothing short of transformational for our families and communities,” said Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “Coloradans demanded that we take bold action to address the issues that matter most to them, and I am pleased to say we delivered. Democrats passed legislation that will boost Colorado’s transit system and protect our clean air and water, make housing more affordable, and finally fully fund our schools for the first time in over a decade. I am proud of all we’ve accomplished together.” “This was a breakthrough session on affordability, housing, transit, water, education, transit and so much more,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “I’m so proud of our bipartisan efforts to increase funding for Colorado public schools by over $500 million and modernize the school finance formula for the first time in a generation to better support vulnerable students and rural schools. New laws will save Coloradans money on housing and property taxes, better protect renters and slash childhood poverty by increasing tax credits for hardworking people and families. From protecting our rivers, streams and wetlands to boosting rural economies and Colorado agriculture, we came together the Colorado way to deliver lasting results for every community in our state.” “This year we set out to make Colorado a more affordable place to live, work and raise a family,” Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “Today, I’m proud to say that the legislation we passed this year achieves that goal and then some. From passing transformational tax credits that deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in relief to low and middle income families to implementing new protections for gig workers to boosting our workforce across industries, I’m extremely proud of the work that Democrats put in over the last 120 days to build on our progress and set Colorado on a path to a more prosperous future.” “This session was huge. On issue after issue, lawmakers came together and passed policies that were years in the making,” said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “From preventing gun violence and protecting workers to boosting the incomes of hardworking people and preventing evictions, we made Colorado safer and more affordable for all. I’m particularly proud of the work of our Black and Latino Caucuses who passed critical legislation to support vulnerable people, improve maternal health and make Colorado a welcoming place for everyone who calls our state home.” This year, lawmakers passed bills to save people money on housing and protect renters, increase access to health care and behavioral health care, invest in our students and our schools, expand Colorado’s workforce and improve access to higher education, protect our clean air and water, reduce gun violence, and cut poverty while boosting incomes for hardworking Colorado families. Previous Next

< Back May 2, 2019 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE Bill goes to Gov for signature (May 1) – The House sent a bill sponsored by Speaker of the House KC Becker, D-Boulder, and Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora, to the Governor. The bill will take action to address climate change. Acting on climate will help protect clean air and water, and spur clean energy jobs, innovation, business development, and economic growth for Colorado. “We can address climate change, create clean energy jobs, reduce carbon pollution and help our economy all at once,” s aid Speaker Becker. “I thank my colleagues for taking action to address this challenge and we look forward to the Governor signing it into law. Air pollution doesn’t respect county or governmental boundaries and in Colorado we take pride in the fact that we are doing our part to address the impacts of climate change. This bill sets goals to reduce carbon pollution and some utilities have already set carbon-free goals.” “We too frequently see the smog, and the hazy, bad air quality impacting the air we all breathe. Pollution is changing how we live our lives and threatening the things we love about Colorado,” said Rep. Jackson when the bill passed the House in April. “We’ve all heard the stories about elderly individuals who have been physically harmed because they couldn’t cool their home. Our seniors, low income people and especially communities of color are more likely to bear the impacts of climate change. Let’s preserve our Colorado way of life today.” Rep. Jackson is Chair of the House Energy and Environment committee. Establishing science-based goals & taking action to meet them are critical to Colorado’s future. The overwhelming majority of Coloradans support climate action. Coloradans are already seeing the negative impacts of climate change on a daily basis: Coloradans are experiencing poor air quality affecting our health; mountain residents are seeing more frequent and destructive wildfires; increased drought is harming our farms; smaller snow packs are resulting in shorter ski seasons; and shallower rivers for fishing and rafting are threatening our thriving outdoor economy and the Colorado way of life. The overwhelming majority of Coloradans support climate action. This reasonable, science-based legislation directs the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) to develop rules limiting carbon pollution, ensuring Colorado lead on climate action. HB19-1261 puts pollution reduction goals into statute to reduce Colorado’s greenhouse gas pollution by 26 percent by 2025, 50 percent by 2030, and 90 percent by 2050 of 2005 levels. The AQCC will hold an extensive stakeholder process throughout the rulemaking period. The House re-passed the bill after the Senate added amendments on a vote 39-24. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Lukens: Breakthrough legislative session Jun 12, 2024 See more This story was originally published in the Craig Daily Press here . Two years ago, you elected me to serve in the Colorado State House and stand up for Northwest Colorado. From Vail to Rangely, Oak Creek to Maybell, I continue to keep my commitment to the people of House District 26 to deliver on the three Es: education, the environment and the economy. I continued my work from last year to accomplish these goals and delivered real results for Colorado this 2024 Legislative Session. Investing in our schools As a social studies teacher, it is critical that we give every student the resources they need to succeed. One of the reasons I ran for the Colorado House of Representatives was to eliminate the Budget Stabilization Factor, and I am proud to say that this legislative session, we successfully eliminated the BSF. This commitment to our students and their future means that starting next year, our schools will have an additional $560 million to provide students individualized attention with smaller class sizes, pay our hardworking teachers what they deserve, and ensure that everyone is given the resources they need for the best learning environment. This commitment continues to our rural schools. For the first time, we created an ongoing rural school funding stream through a new “Rural Factor” within the School Finance Act . This adds almost $36 million for rural students’ success. In 2025, the State is committing an additional $225 million to the over 132,000 rural and remote students in Colorado, who will now have the adequate resources they deserve. I also supported landmark legislation that will make it easier and more affordable for students to attend college. Students and families making under $90,000 will soon be eligible for a tax credit that will cover the full cost of community college, or two years of a four-year degree. We also capped tuition increases at state universities to save families money. Protecting our vital water resources On the Western Slope, we know how vital our water is to survival. I am proud to report that legislators are serious about protecting this precious resource. As the snow melts and the water flows, we passed HB24-1379 , which restores critical protections for Colorado’s streams, rivers and wetlands. The State House and Senate unanimously passed SB24-197 , Water Conservation Measures, which will implement recommendations from the Colorado River Drought Task Force to protect Colorado’s water supply. In order to maximize the water flowing through our homes, I sponsored HB24-1362 , a bipartisan bill to promote conserving graywater through water reuse in residential buildings. Economic prosperity Our working families are the backbone of the Western Slope from our teachers to our agricultural small business owners. This legislative session, there was strong bipartisan support to uplift the economy and support our families. I am proud that all of my bills boosting rural prosperity passed both the House and Senate and have been signed into law by Governor Polis. These bills boost our rural and agriculture economies, making it easier for folks to enter fast growing industries, and helping parents access affordable childcare. We also worked hard to make it more affordable to live in Colorado. We passed bipartisan legislation to reduce property taxes for homeowners and businesses. We also made the senior homestead property tax exemption portable so older Coloradans can downsize and save money if they want to without losing this tax break. Finally we extended tax breaks for senior housing costs, cut income taxes, and boosted tax credits for agriculture and businesses that hire in rural areas. I was proud to sponsor legislation that will create jobs and boost businesses along rail lines in formerly coal-dependent communities in our district. These business incentives will foster new development along the rail line between Craig and Steamboat to keep up investment on these tracks with the goal of establishing passenger rail service that will boost housing options, new industries, and jobs in our region. Uplifting our ranchers Our rancher and agricultural producers are the lifeline of Colorado and it is critical that we support them in all aspects of their business and health. This year, I sponsored SB24-055, a bipartisan bill that will create the Agricultural Liaison role within the Behavioral Health Administration to guarantee that farmers, ranchers, and other industry workers are not forgotten by the broader mental health industry. SB24-126, will provide additional state incentives to support conservation easements. By extending access to conservation easements, this bipartisan bill helps Colorado property owners sustainably manage their land. House District 26 Representing House District 26 – Eagle, Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco counties — truly is an honor. Taking your insights back to the State Capitol to help make our communities stronger is the greatest privilege I have ever had. None of this work would be possible without your support and engagement, so thank you for the thousands of emails, many phone calls, visits to the State Capitol, conversations on aisle four of the grocery store, questions during town halls, selfies at events and coffee meetings at our local coffee shops. I am excited to hear more of your insights in June at our upcoming Town Halls. Rep. Meghan Lukens represents District 26, which includes Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Eagle counties, in the Colorado House. Previous Next

< Back February 3, 2022 GARNETT AND ESGAR THANK PRESIDENT GARCIA FOR HIS SERVICE TO COLORADO DENVER, CO – Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver, and Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, today released the following statements after Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, announced he will resign on February 23 to accept a position with the Department of Defense. “President Garcia has served Colorado and our nation with distinction, and it has been a privilege to work alongside him to move Colorado forward,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “We have so much to be proud of–from saving people money on health care and prescription drugs to expanding access to substance use treatment, Colorado is a better state because of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m grateful for President Garcia’s service to our state and our nation, and I congratulate him on this important appointment. The Biden Administration is lucky to have him on their team!” “I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together, and I couldn’t be more excited to see my good friend from Pueblo continue his long career of service to our nation at the Pentagon,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Thank you President Garcia for your dedication to Colorado, and for everything you’ve done to support Pueblo and our Southern Colorado communities. I will miss the President’s leadership and ceaseless determination to fight for Pueblo, and I wish him the best as he continues serving our nation at the Pentagon.” Previous Next

< Back June 3, 2019 GOV SIGNS EXUM’S BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROTECT HEALTH OF FIREFIGHTERS AND MCLACHLAN’S BILL TO COMBAT WILDFIRES (Jun 3) – Governor Polis signed two bills today that protect firefighters and help combat wildfires and protect public safety. Rep. Tony Exum’s bipartisan bill, which was unanimously passed out of the House, looks to protect firefighters from the dangerous impacts of the manmade Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFA) which is used regularly in the profession. “As a former battalion chief, we often used the material during training and this toxic material increased the health concerns of my fellow firefighters,” said Rep. Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “When we used this material, it would frequently contaminate the drinking water of the surrounding communities. This is a long overdue step that we can take to protect our courageous firefighters who fight for us and protect the health of people in our communities.” PFA substances are used to battle high-heat fires. The EPA has deemed this material toxic as it stays in the body for two to seven years upon exposure. HB19-1279 prohibits the use of PFA during firefighting training exercises and includes a fine for compliance failure. The money collected from these fines would go to the Local Firefighters Safety and Disease Prevention Fund. Finally, it also created the Firefighters Foams and Personal Protection Equipment Act, which prohibits the use of PFAs, requires companies to inform consumers if their equipment has been treated with this hazardous material and requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) to conduct surveys to learn if any stations are using this material. Rep. Barbara McLachlan’s bill to help combat wildfires was also signed today by the Governor. “Wildfire season is fast approaching,” said Rep. McLachlan, D-Durango. “Implementing a system to patrol the airspace above the fires will give our firefighters the tools they need to keep our homes, communities and themselves safe.” SB19-020 directs the Center of Excellence (COE) to study and implement a system to patrol the airspace above a wildland fire. The COE was created under SB14-164 in the Division of Fire Prevention and Control in the Dept. of Public Safety. Its mission is to protect Colordoans, land and resources in Colorado by researching, testing and evaluating existing and new technologie that support sustainable effective and efficient aerial fighting techniques. Detection of drones is currently limited to visual observation which poses challenges during a wildland fire. Previous Next

< Back October 23, 2020 MICHAELSON JENET NAMED CBHC’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHAMPION Denver, CO– On Sunday, October 25 at 3:00 PM, Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet will be presented with the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council and Aurora Mental Health Center’s 2020 Behavioral Health Champion Award during a virtual town hall . Rep. Michaelson Jenet will be recognized for her ongoing work “addressing mental health and substance use disorder services and trainings in the state of Colorado.” A full list of her accomplishments cited by the organizations is included at the end of this press release. In advance of receiving this award, Rep. Michaelson Jenet released the following statement: “Behavioral health has been one of my top priorities since I decided to run for office, and receiving this award is honoring and humbling,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Now more than ever, we need to consider the behavioral health impacts of all of our policy decisions, and we need to take behavioral health concerns as seriously as we take physical health. Although this year posed a series of unique challenges, I’m proud of the work we did in the legislature for the people of Colorado. From channelling federal funds towards mental and substance use treatments to working to reduce stigma by ensuring Colorado’s kids can take mental health days, I’m humbled to have played a part in working to improve the behavioral health of all Coloradans. I look forward to continuing to work with organizations like CBHC and the Aurora Mental Health Center to build on this progress.” From the CBHC Press Release: In 2020 alone, [Rep. Michaelson Jenet’s] accomplishments included: Relentless advocate for mental health substance use disorder (SUD) services, suicide prevention services for youth, Mental Health First Aid champion, and parity. Vice-Chair for the House Committee on Health & Human Services House co-prime sponsor for HB20-1411: Concerning the Allocation of Money the State Received from the Federal Coronavirus Relief Fund for Behavioral Health Services House co-prime sponsor for HB20-1206: Sunset Mental Health Professionals House prime sponsor for HB20-1086: Insurance Coverage Mental Health Wellness Exam House prime sponsor for HB20-1312: Behavioral Health Training Requirements Educator License Chair of the Interim Committee on School Safety focused on mental health and emotional wellness supports House co-sponsor of SB20-001: Expand Behavioral Health Training For K-12 Educators House sponsor of SB20-014: Excused Absences In Public Schools For Behavioral Health Past Notable Efforts/Achievements: 2019 House prime sponsor of HB19-1129: Prohibit Conversion Therapy for a Minor 2019 House prime sponsor of HB19-1120: Youth Mental Health Education and Suicide Prevention 2018 House prime sponsor of HB18-1357: Behavioral Health Care Ombudsperson Parity Reports Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation sponsored by Representative Yara Zokaie and Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker on a preliminary vote to strengthen Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws. < Back March 27, 2025 Legislation to Strengthen Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act Advances DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation sponsored by Representative Yara Zokaie and Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker on a preliminary vote to strengthen Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws. “Under threat of the Trump Administration, it’s more important now than ever that we strengthen Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins. “When someone is wronged, we have a duty to create a pathway to justice. I’m sponsoring this legislation to uphold our shared values of fairness, dignity, and equality under Colorado law and better protect Coloradans who experience discrimination.” “This bill addresses unreasonable deadlines, barriers to financial compensation and other gaps in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to strengthen protections for Coloradans who experience discrimination,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “From housing discrimination to inaccessible building entrances, Coloradans with disabilities have faced barriers to access for far too long. This legislation provides crucial recourse to people with disabilities and other victims of discrimination to ensure they can receive the justice they deserve.” HB25-1239 expands protections under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) to protect vulnerable communities, especially Coloradans with disabilities. This bill would allow victims of discrimination to receive monetary compensation for unfair housing practices, discrimination in places of public accommodation, or a violation of their civil rights under the CADA for all protected classes. Under the bill, victims would be able to pursue attorney’s fees and costs, and either recovery of actual monetary damages, non-economic damages of up to $50,000, or a statutory fine of $5,000 per violation per aggrieved party. Awards for damages for non-economic loss or injury are limited to $50,000, and a defendant is entitled to a 50 percent reduction of the amount of the non-economic loss or injury if the defendant corrects the violation within 30 days after the complaint is filed and did not knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly made or caused the violation. Previous Next

Bills would increase access to care for youth in foster care with complex behavioral health care needs and expand treatment options for Coloradans with substance use disorder (SUD) < Back April 29, 2024 House Passes Bipartisan Bills to Expand Behavioral Health Care and SUD Treatment DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bipartisan bills from legislative interim committees to support children and youth in the foster care system and expand treatment options for Coloradans with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). “The need for more residential treatment centers and beds is clear, especially for our foster children and youth with complex behavioral health care needs,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of HB24-1038 . “Our bipartisan legislation is a product of the child welfare interim committee and works to strengthen the system of care specifically by increasing the availability of residential care settings and investing in more treatment beds. We’re also taking steps to reduce bed reliance by increasing treatment options for foster care youth and assuring staff have the training they need. This bill works to boost Colorado’s behavioral health care resources and streamline care to ou r foster children and youth who need it the most.” HB24-1038 , also sponsored by Representative Brandi Bradley, R-Roxborough, outlines a new system of care designed for youth and children with complex behavioral health needs who are in foster care, or at risk of out-of-home placement. Specifically, it would require state agencies to create a care plan that includes the implementation of a standardized assessment tool, intensive-care coordination, increased supportive services and expanded access to treatment in foster care. HB24-1038 passed by a vote of 57 to 6. The bill aims to make it easier for youth with complex behavioral health needs to receive the care they need, when they need it. In order to meet the needs of foster youth, the bill creates a training academy to develop high-quality residential child care providers who will ensure effective, safe, and responsible care. The legislation requires the state to monitor quality standards for residential child care providers at all levels of care.This bill originated from the Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee and was unanimously approved by the committee in October 2023. “Too many of our neighbors are dying from preventable overdoses, this bill expands treatment options in our state so more people struggling with substance use disorder can receive the care they need,” said Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, sponsor of HB24-1045. “During the interim, I worked alongside a bipartisan group of legislators to identify important policy changes that would help us address our state’s growing opioid overdose crisis. As a result, we’ve crafted this bill to streamline treatment for Coloradans who need it the most, including in the rural corners of our state and those in jail or prison. The demand for substance use disorder treatment has outpaced what is available in our state – expanding treatment options will undoubtedly save lives.” HB24-1045 , also sponsored by Representative Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, would expand treatment options for Coloradans with SUD. This bill passed by a vote of 52 to 11. Specifically, this bill would: Direct the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to apply for federal Medicaid waivers (1115) to cover health care services for people in jail or prison and to cover a partial-hospitalization level of care in our communities Reduce insurance barriers to accessing substance use disorder treatment Expand the treatment workforce by increasing clinical supervision opportunities for addiction counselors under qualified licensed professional counselors,licensed clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family therapists Authorize pharmacists to, prescribe medical-assisted treatment (MAT) Create a contingency management grant program, funding the best evidence-based practices to help people with stimulant use disorders stay sober Invest in behavioral health diversion programs to provide adults charged with a minor offense a substance use treatment option Continue the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee through the 2025 interim session During the 2023 interim, ten bipartisan lawmakers served on the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee . This interim committee advanced four bills, including HB24-1045, for the general assembly to consider this year. These bills would bolster prevention efforts, improve treatment programs, promote harm reduction strategies, and support Coloradans in recovery to prevent overdose deaths and save lives. Previous Next